Frances Judith (Uhric) Magoc

Frances Judith Uhric Magoc, 89, returned to her Lord April 5, 2016. She died peacefully in her sleep at Elmcroft''s Heartland Village in Saxonburg, where she had been lovingly cared for over the past year. Born December 27, 1926 in Brackenridge, Pennsylvania, Frances Judith Uhric was the eleventh child of the late Theresa Krchnavy and Joseph Peter Uhric. She received the name of a brother Francis who died shortly after birth. Mrs. Magoc attended St. Matthias Catholic School in Natrona, as well as public schools in Brackenridge, graduating very proudly from Har-Brack High School in 1944. Following a brief courtship that preceded his induction into the U.S. Army in 1942, Mr. Magoc avidly pursued his sweetheart while serving in New Guinea during World War II. Frances accepted Mr. Magoc''s proposal shortly after his return from the war and they married at St. Matthias Roman Catholic Slovak Church on May 4, 1946. In 1948 Mr. and Mrs. Magoc moved to Tarentum''s Mill Street Extension where they raised five sons. Fran''s boys were the center of her life. She lovingly cared and cooked for them, taught and encouraged them, celebrated their achievements, worried endlessly, and loved themand their wives and her eight grandchildren, who in turn adored heruntil the end. A devout Catholic, in 1946 Frances joined her husband''s St. Clement parish (Holy Martyrs) and became a faithful servant of ministries. For many years, Mrs. Magoc taught CCD, served as a Eucharistic Minister, was a regular reader at daily mass, and also transported elderly parishioners to and from daily Mass. Mrs. Magoc talked often of her journeys to the Holy Land, the Vatican, and her family''s native land of Slovakia. Indeed, Fran traveled extensively, with her husband or with other family, throughout the United States and parts of Canada and the Caribbean. Because her large Uhric family remained an integral part of her life, Mrs. Magoc played a central role in organizing the Uhric Family Reunion and was able to attend the 75th annual event in 2015. Keeping alive her Slovak family heritage and traditions was vital to her. Anyone who visited the Magocs came to know the gracious hospitality and excellent cooking of Fran Magoc. You could not leave the house without eating. More. And then dessert. She took pride in preparing wonderful meals for her family and putting up many jars of tomatoes from her husband''s garden every summer. Mrs. Magoc held a number of positions outside the home, including waitress at the Edna Hotel in Arnold during the war, "over-painter" of photographs for Edwards Studio, and medical receptionist. For many years she worked as a clerk at Hart''s Department Store in New Kensington and Natrona Heights, where her charm and social grace helped to sell countless pairs of shoes. In her last years the great joy of Mrs. Magoc''s life was sitting in her yard with her husband and her boys enjoying her husband''s lavish flower gardens and visits from extended family. Frances Magoc is survived by her five sons, Stephen Daniel and companion Letitia Kus of Sarver; James C. and Sue Ann Magoc of Brackenridge; Gerard T. and Sandra Magoc of Tarentum; Ronald A. and Karen Magoc of Natrona Heights; and Chris J. and Mary Ellen Magoc of Erie. Also surviving Frances are her eight wonderful grandchildren, two sisters Albina Rybicki and Agnes Monti, a sister-in-law Josephine (and husband Walter) Berkoben, and brothers-in-law Vincent Taliani, Andrew Magoc, and Peter (and wife Patricia) Magoc. In addition to her parents and infant brother, Mrs. Magoc was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 68 years, Stephen Joseph Magoc; Uhric sisters Mary (Honzo-Vavro), Christine (Durci), Bernadette (Rusnak), Julia (Krajci), Helen (Malinsky), and Irene "Renee" (Taliani), and by brothers John and Joseph.Family and friends may call at Duster Funeral Home, 347 East 10th Avenue on Thursday April 7 from 2-4 and 6-8. Mass of Christian burial will take place Friday April 8 at 10 am at Holy Martyrs Roman Catholic Church in Tarentum with Rev. Thomas L. Gillespie, MD, officiating. Burial in Our Lady of Hope Cemetery, Frazer Twp.